Alzheimer's Disease and Exercise: A Literature Review

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Gerontology
• Public Health

Background:

• Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder leading to dementia, significantly impacting the elderly.
• Current medications for AD have mixed effectiveness, highlighting the need for alternative strategies.
• Physical inactivity is a major preventable risk factor for AD development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the role of exercise as a treatment and prevention strategy for Alzheimer's disease.
• To explore the effects of exercise on cognitive function, brain health, and daily living activities in AD patients.
• To compare the efficacy and tolerability of exercise versus pharmacological interventions for AD.

Main Methods:

• Review of prospective studies and clinical evidence on exercise interventions for AD.
• Analysis of exercise's impact on neurobiological markers such as hippocampal volume and neurogenesis.
• Assessment of exercise's effects on cognitive performance and neuropsychiatric symptoms.

Main Results:

• Exercise improves brain blood flow, increases hippocampal volume, and promotes neurogenesis.
• Higher physical activity levels are associated with a reduced risk of developing AD.
• Exercise demonstrates improvements in cognitive function, reduced neuropsychiatric symptoms, and slower decline in activities of daily living (ADL).

Conclusions:

• Exercise is a promising strategy for managing pre-clinical, late-stage AD, and prevention.
• Exercise offers a safer, more tolerable alternative to medications for AD treatment with better adherence.
• Promoting physical activity is crucial for mitigating AD risk and improving patient outcomes.